In this episode, Ed and Jentre visit with Lee Gordon. Lee is the co-founder of Hand in Hand, an Israeli non-profit organization that has created a network of integrated public schools serving Arab and Jewish children. Starting with just 50 students in 1998, Hand in Hand now has six campuses serving over 2,000 Jewish and Arab students and is making a significant impact in Israel for Jewish-Arab partnership, coexistence and shared society. Beyond the classroom, Hand in Hand engages over 3,000 Jewish and Arab adults in its joint community programs.
Lee lived in Israel for 20 years and earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Hebrew University and graduated from the Mandel Institute’s School for Educational Leadership. He also founded American Friends of Hand in Hand, a US-based non-profit supporting Hand in Hand’s work in Israel. To learn more about Hand in Hand and to take a virtual tour of a few of their schools, check out the links below.
Links:
https://www.handinhandk12.org/
https://www.handinhandk12.org/tour-our-galilee-school/
https://www.handinhandk12.org/hand-in-hand-beit-berl-aleph-bet-school/
https://www.handinhandk12.org/meet-duaa-and-guy-co-teachers-haifas-7th-grade/